Finalizing equipment/build - need some help

[mbemount]

I initially had hoped this tank would be set up months ago but my daughter decided she wanted to come early and most of this was put on hold. Now that everything has settled down in my household and I have some extra money to spend I want to get this tank up and going. The damn thing has been sitting in my living room teasing me for months now.

Equipment Purchased

• Display - 125G Marineland Corner-Flo (dual overflows) - 72x18x22
• Stand - Custom made
• Sump - 40G Long
• Skimmer - Aquamaxx ConeS CO-2
• Heaters - Eheim Jager 2x300W
• Return Pump - Waveline DC10000II; overkill but I got an insane deal on it and it cost me under what the 4000's cost. I'll just tune it down to one of the lowest settings.
• Rock - BRS Pukani - Already have about ~75lbs, still need to order ~50 or so lbs.
• RODI Unit - SpectraPure MaxCap 2:1 Manual Flush 90-GPD RO/DI System
• Test Kits - Red Sea (NH3/NH4 | NO3 | NO2 | pH | KH) / Hannah ULR 736 Phosphorus Checker.
• Refractometer - Whichever one BRS sells with calibration solution.
• Quarantine - 20 Long; have everything to run it for either TTM (2 of them) or if I want it permanent.

Equipment still waiting to buy

• Substrate - Reef Flakes or Fiji Pink? The Reef Flakes seem to be the favorite right now, little pricier but heard nothing but good things about them. May have some sand sifters so I don't want to get too big of substrate.
• Circulation - Maxxspect Gyre x150. Pretty set on this, possibly going with 2 and alternating them every so often.
• Lighting - This is something I really can't figure out what I want. LED is a must to keep power costs down. I'd love to have something that is Apex 'ready' but it's not a must. I don't know how many fixtures I'll need either. With how my tank is laid out (1 center brace right in the middle) it doesn't work very well with 3 lights (most say around 24x24 coverage?). Having 1 on each side + 1 in the middle seems like I'm wasting quite a bit of light. 4 fixtures may be out of my budget too for most of the higher end fixtures. This will more than likely end up being a mixed reef tank. I don't plan on having 'too' many SPS or high light corals but once I start adding them will I get addicted and want more?
• ATO - Tunze Osomolator or Hydor Smart Level? Is the cost difference worth it?
• Reactors - BRS dual, GFO/Carbon. Seems like the best bang for the buck.
• Filter Socks & holder - Might just make something DIY, haven't found anything that I really like so far from looking online. Tips? High or lower micron? Or is it just find a good point on how often I want to change them?

Can anyone give me some advice on some of the stuff I'm still looking at getting (or missing)? I'm not looking at trying to cheap out on anything or cut any corners as I know it'll bite me in the butt down the road. I have been pulling phosphates out of my pukani for over a month now and it's hitting the home stretch so I figure it's about time to start the cycle. Thanks in advance!

[wetWolger]

I know you already purchased it, but I would want a larger sump for such a large system personally....Luckily that should be a lowish dollar value to replace

You mentioned in your lighting you want something "apex ready"...if your going to have an apex, why not use that for your ATO method? That can have other pro's as well (for example turn off the skimmer when the sump high level float switch is triggered)

[woodnaquanut]

Congrats on the birth of your daughter. Delaying a tank for a kid is no big deal. Remember, nothing good happens fast in reefing!

Your list...

I have reef flakes. Love it. Didn't need rinsing!

Gyre - interesting. I have Vortechs but would consider the Gyre if I hadn't already spent a fortune on the Vortechs! You could always start with one and add a second as corals grew. This assumes you haven't spent all your $$ on the kid!

Lighting - There are so many options. I've seen great tanks with many brands. If I had to do it over, (see vortech!) I'd give Kessils a shot.

ATO - Tunze has a great reputation.

Reactors - I have the BRS and have no complaints. They are not very expensive. There is 15% off on Cobalt pumps right now.

I'm sock-less. Maintenance PIA, IMHO.

[mbemount]

Originally Posted by wetWolger

I know you already purchased it, but I would want a larger sump for such a large system personally....Luckily that should be a lowish dollar value to replace

You mentioned in your lighting you want something "apex ready"...if your going to have an apex, why not use that for your ATO method? That can have other pro's as well (for example turn off the skimmer when the sump high level float switch is triggered)

This was the biggest tank I could end up fitting underneath my stand (sump area) that would give me good clearance to work. I initially considered going with a 75 but it was too wide, 55 was too tall.

As for the apex, it's not a piece I will be getting initially. I feel more comfortable going with a device that is made to do the ATO's.

[mbemount]

Originally Posted by woodnaquanut

Congrats on the birth of your daughter. Delaying a tank for a kid is no big deal. Remember, nothing good happens fast in reefing!

Your list...

I have reef flakes. Love it. Didn't need rinsing!

Gyre - interesting. I have Vortechs but would consider the Gyre if I hadn't already spent a fortune on the Vortechs! You could always start with one and add a second as corals grew. This assumes you haven't spent all your $$ on the kid!

Lighting - There are so many options. I've seen great tanks with many brands. If I had to do it over, (see vortech!) I'd give Kessils a shot.

ATO - Tunze has a great reputation.

Reactors - I have the BRS and have no complaints. They are not very expensive. There is 15% off on Cobalt pumps right now.

I'm sock-less. Maintenance PIA, IMHO.

Thanks, she's doing well and I'm a really patient guy so it's no real rush.

Circulation - I'm leaning for picking up 1 gyre and trying it out and possibly either adding a 2nd or adding some MP40's to supplement as they just dropped in price. It may just be a playing game to see what I like the best. MP40's are my backup plan.

Lightning - I think I could go with 2 Kessils initially and then add 2 more down the road but I'll have a lot of dark spots.

[wetWolger]

Originally Posted by mbemount

This was the biggest tank I could end up fitting underneath my stand (sump area) that would give me good clearance to work. I initially considered going with a 75 but it was too wide, 55 was too tall.

As for the apex, it's not a piece I will be getting initially. I feel more comfortable going with a device that is made to do the ATO's.

I would never glue an aquarium together, but I absolutely would build my own sump....either glass or acrylic are not too bad to make. That way you can get the right dimensions.

edit** the reason I would never do my own aquarium is because I doubt it would look very pretty. I am confident that most people can make something that wont leak, particularly if you don't mind some material hanging off over the edge and stuff.

[mbemount]

Originally Posted by wetWolger

I would never glue an aquarium together, but I absolutely would build my own sump....either glass or acrylic are not too bad to make. That way you can get the right dimensions.

edit** the reason I would never do my own aquarium is because I doubt it would look very pretty. I am confident that most people can make something that wont leak, particularly if you don't mind some material hanging off over the edge and stuff.

Yeah hindsight is 20/20, if I could do it again I would probably make the stand a tad bigger so I could fit a wider sump in but I think I'll be ok with it the way it is. Appearance is pretty important with this as it's in my living room.

[mbemount]

Anyone else got any comments? Especially about the lights? That's my biggest worry... >.<

[footyreefer]

If you get fine grade sand your going to run into problems with the gyre. I personally have a 125 and hate the 18" width. Can't wait to upgrade to a 220... I use 2 RW15 and they get the job done at a cheap price, but are very great. For lighting, i wouldn't recommend kessils unless you got 4. I say that because the shadowing would drive me nuts. I have 3 arctic T247 from Ocean Revive and love them. Grow sps great.

[mbemount]

Originally Posted by footyreefer

If you get fine grade sand your going to run into problems with the gyre. I personally have a 125 and hate the 18" width. Can't wait to upgrade to a 220... I use 2 RW15 and they get the job done at a cheap price, but are very great. For lighting, i wouldn't recommend kessils unless you got 4. I say that because the shadowing would drive me nuts. I have 3 arctic T247 from Ocean Revive and love them. Grow sps great.

Yeah, I would have loved to go with a 220 but the lady thought 125 was too big so I had to take what I could get. Next logical step from the 125 is the 220 though...! Maybe in the future. I think the Reef Flakes will be big enough to hold up to the flow.

Do you have 2 braces or 1 on your 125?

[footyreefer]

1 brace.

[mbemount]

Originally Posted by footyreefer

1 brace.

You happen to have any pictures of the lights hanging? I just am really worried to get equal light i'll need it in the middle and the brace will block alot of light. If it doesn't however I can cross that off of my concerns!

[footyreefer]

Originally Posted by mbemount

You happen to have any pictures of the lights hanging? I just am really worried to get equal light i'll need it in the middle and the brace will block alot of light. If it doesn't however I can cross that off of my concerns!

[footyreefer]

Of course now that I have 3 T247 the dark spots in the middle are gone.

[mbemount]

Thanks! Not half as bad as I thought it could be.